Tag Archives: ARTISAN

ARTISAN 2.0 (2021): Connecting Youths and Seniors in a Pandemic

ARTISAN 2.0 (July 2021): Virtually Connecting Youths and Seniors in the Midst of a Raging Pandemic

ARTISAN (Aspiration and Resilience Through Intergenerational Storytelling and Art-based Narratives) was developed by Associate Professor Andy Ho with his PhD student Ms. Stephanie Hilary Ma of the Action for Community Health (ARCH) Laboratory at the School of Social Sciences of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), in partnership with National Arts Council, the National Museum of Singapore, TOUCH Community Services and Care Community Services Society. The aims of ARTISAN are to alleviate loneliness, cultivate resilience and build social connectedness among the young and the old through a holistic and multimodal intervention framework that combines the 3 distinctive elements of 1) participatory arts; 2) facilitated storytelling, and 3) curated arts spaces.

From our pilot study in 2018, the research team found that both senior and youth participants experienced significant increase in life satisfaction and resilience, as well as decreased loneliness. ARTISAN, with its intricately designed art and heritage program was able to connect participants’ individual stories with the national stories of Singapore to forge a deepened national identity and a stronger sense of unity under the skylights of the museum space.  

Following the successful outcomes of the pilot study, the team sought to better understand the mechanisms underlying ARTISAN’s integrative framework, as well as the interplay between different intervention components including intergenerational storytelling, creative art-making and curated museum tours. As such, ARTISAN 2.0 (Deconstructing the Integrative Efficacy of a Multimodal Art-based Intervention to Strengthen Understanding and Demystify Misconception on Arts Heritage and Health) was conceived.

ARTISAN 2.0 involves a research study that test the effectiveness of holistic health promotion among 5 intervention conditions including (1) the full ARTISAN programme; (2) Intergenerational Artmaking; (3) Intergenerational Museum Tours; (4) Intergenerational Storytelling; and (5) Intergenerational Exercise. While the programmes were designed to be run in-person, it was translated onto an online platform for the safety of all due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With strong partnership amongst all stakeholders, a virtual implementation of ARTISAN 2.0 was developed, encouraging creative and active engagements from the comfort of the participant’s homes.

In July this year, 140 youth and seniors were paired and collectively embarked on a 5-week virtual adventure while improving their holistic health over various activities. The pairs enjoyed the activities as a group on Zoom and forged deeper intergenerational relationships in breakout rooms. Participants in the physical exercise group worked up a sweat virtually through intergenerational aerobic exercises led by a skilled physical trainer. Those in the intergenerational art-making programme explored a myriad of visual art mediums with their partner, an enthralling experience of creative expression led by a local artist. Youth and seniors in the intergenerational museum tours discovered Singapore’s artefacts and unique history through interactive virtual tours of the galleries, live streamed from the National Museum of Singapore. In the intergenerational storytelling group, participants shared their life experiences and wisdom with each other, and were transported to various times in their partner’s lives. Participants in the ARTISAN group experienced an intricate combination of curated live streamed museum tours, professionally led art making and a guided narrative experience, based on the empirically based ARTISAN framework themes of discovering their national heritage, building lasting social bonds, reflecting upon resilience while overcoming adversities and collectively building dreams and aspirations for their future.

After five weeks of engaging in the various programmes offered in the ARTISAN 2.0 study, participants experienced positive life changes such as confidence to learn new skills, greater zest for life, and strengthened relations with others. An 18-year-old female participant shared that the ARTISAN “programme gave (her) a lot of positive interactions, and (she) really enjoyed listening to the big group sharing. It was very enjoyable for (her) as it was like a stress reliever. (She) was generally happier throughout the five weeks, and (she) was engaging (her) family in conversation more (often) as well.” Similarly, a 69-year-old male participant “realised that if (he was) able to communicate with the (youth) participants during the five weeks, why can’t (he) communicate with (his) grandchildren? This programme encouraged (him) to open up to his grandchildren.”.

Participants also observed improvements in their wellbeing and quality of life after completing the ARTISAN 2.0 programmes. One 30-year-old female participant explained that she was “diagnosed with insomnia but realised that these five weeks (of attending ARTISAN) have been so good, (she) had no troubles sleeping (at all).” In terms of psychological health, a 76-year-old female participant shared that “(her) mood has been better, and (she) has less frustrations” and the programme made another 70-year-old participant “feel like (she) has become younger at heart”.

For some older participants, joining an online programme may seem challenging to navigate. Over time, with weekly practice, the support provided by facilitators and fellow participants as well as a willingness to learn, many were able to independently enjoy the activities on zoom. A 68-year-old lady mentioned that “during the first and second week, (she) needed guidance from (her) grandchild. At the end of the programme, (she) can log into Zoom by herself.” Initially, some youth participants were also worried about engaging with seniors on an online platform, however, their concerns were eased as they found the online platform and the ARTISAN programme to be “a very comfortable space, it was very easy for (them) to engage with the seniors, and it didn’t really feel like (the seniors) were from a different generation, it felt more like we were friends talking and hanging out (18-year-old, female)”

During these unprecedented times where physical distancing and staying home remains the default, the ARTISAN 2.0 study showed that virtual arts and heritage intergenerational group-based interventions have vast potential to empower and forge meaningful relationships among youths and seniors, bringing them closer together in healing loneliness. July 2021 was fraught with uncertainty and challenges for many in Singapore, nonetheless, it was an eventful journey for all who were involved in ARTISAN 2.0, fostering a narrative of renewed strength and shared humanity.

Image 1: Holding up emblems and pictures of loved ones to start off a wonderful morning of sharing life’s best moments, exchanging stories and wisdom for participants in the storytelling group

 

Image 2: Participants in the physical activity group showing their strength after a virtual morning workout together

Image 3: Participants in the museum tour groups giving a big thumbs up to thank our museum tour docents for their engaging and wonderful tours.  

Image 4: Fancy some kueh-kueh? Participants in the art-making group sharing clay models of their favourite foods.

Image 5: Participants may be tuning in remotely, but that does not stop them from creating art together. “Our Future Singapore” is a digital collage of the participant’s collective dreams and aspirations for Singapore.

IAFOR Scholarship Recipient (2019) – Ms. Stephanie Hilary Ma

IAFOR Scholarship Recipient (2019) – Ms. Stephanie Hilary Ma

Our Master student, Ms. Stephanie Hilary Xinyi Ma, received the IAFOR Scholarship at the 9th Asian Conference on Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences (ACP2019) held in Tokyo from 21st to 23rd March 2019. She presented on ‘A Waitlist-Randomised Control Trial for a Novel intergenerational Art-based Intervention: Project ARTISAN’ and ‘The Arts for Ageing Well: An Ecological Process Model for Sustainable Arts Engagement’.

Here is Hilary’s reflection on the award:

“I am grateful to be a recipient of the IAFOR Scholarship, and this is possible because of the steadfast support and guidance from Prof Andy, the ARCH team and NTU. As this was my first time presenting at a conference, it was an eye opening and rewarding experience to be able to engage in interdisciplinary discussion and knowledge exchange at an international conference.”

Connecting with seniors through storytelling and art

Connecting with seniors through storytelling and art

by TOUCH Elderly Group

Connecting with seniors through storytelling and art

Caption: TOUCH senior Mdm Tan Siok Cheng, 77, and youth volunteer, Mr Fabian Foo, bonding over a craft session. (Photo Credit: Gabriel Goh, Stellar Photography, for ARCH Lab, Nanyang Technological University)

ARTISAN: Aspiration and Resilience Through Intergenerational Storytelling and Art-based Narratives – A Pilot Study by the Nanyang Technological University

Project ARTISAN – which stands for Aspiration and Resilience Through Intergenerational Storytelling and Art-based Narratives – is an intricately-structured and holistic multimodal intervention framework that builds resilience and creates meaningful connections between youth and seniors by bringing them together in museum and community spaces.

Over five weeks earlier this year, 34 pairs of youth and seniors embarked on a journey of inter-generational storytelling and creative art-making at the National Museum. They learnt about Singapore’s heritage, the relational bonds forged by our pioneers, the resilience they displayed while overcoming adversities, and the realisation of their dreams and aspirations.

The youth-senior pairs were then given the opportunity to reflect and share their personal stories of love, courage and resilience through artistic expressions and creative writing. Their art-based narratives were shared with members of the public during a series of mini community exhibitions held in May and June this year.

“The ultimate goal of Project ARTISAN is to strengthen social connections and relational bonds to combat isolation and loneliness, while promoting wellbeing and resilience for building a stronger and more compassionate Singapore,” stressed Dr Andy Hau Yan Ho, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Principal Investigator of Project ARTISAN.

Bridging the generation gap through art
Mr Teddy Tan Hock Soon, 77, from TOUCH Senior Activity Centre in Yishun, was mesmerised by the exhibits at the National Museum of Singapore on 21 June. Accompanied by a youth participant from NTU, Mr Tan reminisced about his past, sharing eagerly about the significance of these items and how he came to know about them.

“I was so happy to see familiar artefacts from the past displayed at the museum! It brought back memories of my younger days,” said Mr Tan.

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Caption: Mr Teddy Tan Hock Soon with youth volunteer Ms Ariel Pereira, posing with their art pieces

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Caption: Youths with seniors from TOUCH Senior Activity Centre at Yishun proudly displaying their art exhibits

From discovering Singapore’s national heritage to exploring its hope and future, each session began with a guided museum tour, which started conversations between the youth and seniors. They then created their own artwork – together – using a range of art medium, facilitated by a trained artist or art therapist. After the guided art making, they presented their art pieces and shared their stories to the rest of the group.

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Caption: Coming together to learn and connect

Youth participants from NTU, Nanyang Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic provided positive feedback as they recounted good experiences of their time with the seniors.

“My partner was always very willing to help others. During the art making sessions, she often made flowers out of plastic bags to use them to decorate the art pieces we made. However, when one team struggled to complete on time, she offered them a few flowers of her own as a replacement,” said student volunteer Ms Denise Lim Ying.

Despite experiencing some language barrier, students noted how the aunties and uncles made an effort to interact with them. They were touched by their love and sincerity through their small exchanges.

“Once I started to open up, I began learning more about Aunty Mok Ah Mui. She is very wise and has a carefree personality – a trait I hope to model as I am quite the opposite,” said student volunteer Mr Amos Tan.

Exploring life experiences
Through Project ARTISAN, meaningful conversations ensued as both students and seniors exchanged notes on what they saw and remembered about Singapore’s cultural heritage. The students were amazed by the stories of antiques that were no longer in production.

Student volunteer Mr Fabian Foo described a particular art piece that he and his senior partner created called ‘Day and Night’. He explained that the piece illustrates the different lives they live as a youth and a senior.

“I learnt about the value of saving and how to spend my money wisely. I feel that this truly showed the different lives we have lived and the things we, the younger generation, have taken for granted,” said Mr Foo.

Participant Ms Violet Yeo from TOUCH’s Community Enablement Project (CEP) emphasised the importance of such programmes, citing it as a good medium for the elderly to explore their creativity.

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Caption: Ms Violet Yeo (right) participating in a sharing session at an Ang Mo Kio void deck together with residents and youth participants

“A lot of seniors I have met often tell me they feel lonely. This project helps seniors to express themselves. It also gives them something to look forward to as they get the opportunity to interact with others,” said Ms Yeo.

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Caption: TOUCH’s CEP participants with youth volunteers displaying their cityscape model featuring futuristic HDB flats and enhanced infrastructure using vibrant colours and recycled materials

 

ARTISAN: Fostering Aspirations and Resilience among Seniors

ARTISAN: Fostering Aspirations and Resilience Through Intergenerational Storytelling and Art-based Narratives

Project ARTISAN brings together seniors and youths on a journey of intergenerational storytelling and creative art-making under the skylights of museum and community spaces. ARTISAN – which stands for Aspiration and Resilience Through Inter-generational Storytelling and Art-based Narratives – comprise a holistic and intricately structured multimodal intervention framework that builds resilience and creates meaningful connections between the two generations. ARTISAN aspires to instill positive and impact changes in participants’ lives, with the ultimate goal of citizen empowerment for overcoming loneliness.

Over five weeks in the early summer of 2018, thirty-four pairs of youth-senior dyads engaged in a series of curated tours at the National Museum, to understand Singapore’s heritage, how people in the past have forged relational bonds, the resilience they displayed while overcoming adversities, and how they realised their dreams and aspirations. The youth-senior dyads were then provided with the opportunity to reflect and share their personal stories of love, courage and resilience through artistic expressions and creative writing. Their art based narratives were shared with members of the public during a series of mini community exhibitions held in May and June 2018, as well as through the ARTISAN Exhibition at the National Museum during the 2018 National Day Open House event on 9 August 2018.

A new grant proposal “ARTISAN: A National Study on Citizen Empowerment to Overcoming Loneliness through Arts and Heritage” has recently been submitted to the 2018 Social Science Research Thematic Grant. This new initiative aims to expand and implement the ARTISAN intervention framework across 6 major museums and galleries across Singapore via a Waitlist Randomized Controlled Trial with 400 seniors and 400 youths, while developing an ARTISAN Facilitator Training and Mentorship Programme to empower 200 health and social care professionals to advance societal-wide implementation of ARTISAN beyond research completion, as well as establishing a digital achieve named “Stories Connect” that house and disseminate the unique personal life stories of ARTISAN participants with educational tools to support local Heritage and Value Education programmes.

Project ARTISAN is a project developed by the Action Research for Community Health (ARCH Lab), Nanyang Technological University of Singapore in collaboration with the National Arts Council and the National Museum of Singapore.”